09/27/2017

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise Kahnawa’kehró:non that Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton will make a presentation tomorrow (Thursday) at the provincial Public Inquiry Commission hearings on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Quebec.

The Inquiry, entitled Listening, Reconciliation and Progress, has been underway since June in Val-d’Or, Quebec, in the wake of allegations that some provincial police officers assaulted Indigenous women in that community. Its mandate is as follows:

The mandate of the Provincial Inquiry Commission is to investigate, address facts and conduct analyses in order to make recommendations concerning concrete, effective, lasting remedial measures to be implemented by the Government of Québec and Indigenous officials to prevent or eliminate, regardless of their origin or cause, all forms of violence, discriminatory practices and differential treatment in the delivery of the following public services to Indigenous people of Quebec: police, correctional, legal, health & social services, as well as youth protection services.

“It is important that we take the opportunity to say our piece,” said Grand Chief Norton. “There is much that needs to be addressed, and solutions need to be brought forth if the culture of institutional racism is to be eliminated. There is no doubt that there are a great many people in the various services who conduct themselves with diligence, professionalism, and respect but it is also clear – and completely unacceptable – that any type of discrimination takes place in 2017.”

“This must end today,” he concluded. “Quebec must be ready to act, and do so as quickly as possible. Words will not be enough.”